HRT preserves increases in bone mineral density and reductions in body fat after a supervised exercise program

The aims of thisstudy were to confirm our previous finding that hormone-replacementtherapy (HRT) augments exercise-induced increases in bone mineraldensity (BMD) in older women and to determine whether HRT preserves theadaptations when exercise is reduced or discontinued. The studyincluded an 11-mo treatment phase and a 6-mo follow-up phase.Participants, aged 66 ± 3 yr, were assigned to control (Con;n = 10), exercise (Ex;n = 18), HRT(n = 10), and Ex+HRT(n = 16) groups. HRT was continuedduring the follow-up. After the treatment phase, changes in total body BMD were 0.5 ± 1.7, 1.5 ± 1.4, 1.2 ± 0.8, and 2.7 ± 1.2% in Con, Ex, HRT, and Ex+HRT, respectively. Ex+HRT was moreeffective than HRT in increasing BMD of the total body and tended(P = 0.08) to be more effective at thelumbar spine. Ex+HRT was more effective than Ex in increasing BMD ofthe total body, lumbar spine, and trochanter. Exercise-induced gains inBMD were preserved during the follow-up only in those individuals onHRT. HRT also attenuated fat accumulation, particularly in theabdominal region, after the exercise program. These findings suggestthat HRT is an important adjunct to exercise for the prevention notonly of osteoporosis but also of diseases related to abdominal obesity.

     

Analysis of TwoStaphylococcus epidermidisPlasmids Coding for Resistance to Streptogramin A

The twoStaphylococcus epidermidisplasmids pIP1629 (7.5 kb) and pIP1630 (14.4 kb) contain thevgagene conferring resistance to streptogramin A. All the sequences of pIP1629, except two of the four 22-nt iterons preceding the replication gene, were found in pIP1630. The additional 6.9-kb fragment of pIP1630 is similar to the mobilizableS. epidermidisplasmid pSK639, carrying thedfrA-thyE-orf140operon and thought to replicate by an iteron controlled theta-type replication mechanism. The replication-mobilization elements of pIP1629 and pSK639 are very similar despite having been isolated in France and in Australia, respectively, showing that they are geographically widely dispersed inS. epidermidis.The genethyEencoding thymidylate synthetase carried by pSK639 is not present in pIP1630. pIP1630 probably arose by the recombination of two homologous plasmids carrying distinct resistance determinants.     

Expression of antisense chalcone synthase RNA in transgenic hybrid walnut microcuttings. Effect on flavonoid content and rooting ability

Walnut somatic embryos (Juglans nigra × Juglans regia) were transformed with a vector containing a neomycin phosphotransferase II, a -glucuronidase and an antisense chalcone synthase (chs) gene. This antisense construct included a 400 bp cDNA fragment of a walnut chs gene under the control of the duplicated CaMV-35S promoter. Molecular, biochemical and biological characterizations were performed both on transformed embryos propagated by secondary somatic embryogenesis and on microshoots developed by in vitro culture of embryonic epicotyls from somatic embryos. Thirteen transformed lines with the vector containing the antisense chs gene, one line with only the gus and nptII genes and one untransformed line were maintained in tissue culture. Six of the antisense lines were shown to be flavonoid-deficient. They exhibited a strongly reduced expression of chs genes, very low chalcone synthase activity and no detectable amounts of quercitrin, myricitrin, flavane-3-ols and proanthocyanidins in stems. Rooting tests showed that decreased flavonoid content in stems of antisense chs transformed lines was associated with enhanced adventitious root formation. Free auxin and conjugated auxin contents were determined during the latter phase of the micropropagation, and no variations were detected between control and antisense chs transformed lines. The in vitro plants developed a large basal callus and apical necrosis upon auxinic induction and the transformed lines highly deficient in flavonoids were more sensitive to exogenous application of indolebutyric acid (IBA).     

Leishmania major: Cell type dependent distribution of a 43 kDa antigen related to silent information regulatory-2 protein family

In previous studies we have characterized several Leishmania major polypeptides and showed that one member of this group (LmSIR2rp) shared significant homology to silent information regulator 2 (SIR2) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a protein playing a role in both telomeric and mating type loci repression in these organisms. In the present study, by using molecular and immunological approaches, we could identify LmSIR2rp homologues in different Leishmania species and developmental stages (eg logarithmic (LP) and stationary phase promastigotes (SP) and amastigotes). The reactive antigen was also detected in Trypanosoma cruzi extracts. Surprisingly, immunofluorescence assays revealed that LmSIR2rp is associated mainly with cytoplasmic granules of different sizes and numbers depending on the life stage of the parasite used. No reactivity was observed in the nucleus, in agreement with the Western blot showing an absence of immunoreactivity of anti-LmSIR2rp immune serum against parasite nuclear extracts. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation of [³⁵S]methionine-labeled promastigote antigens after pulse chase experiments, using anti-LmSIR2rp fusion protein antibodies, showed that the protein is among parasite excreted-secreted antigens (ESA). Moreover, immunoflurescence assays conducted with short time incubations of either purified LmSIR2rp or viable promastigotes with murine macrophages, revealed that LmSIR2rp could be bound to the macrophage surface. The unexpected cytoplasmic localization of LmSIR2rp and its presence in ESA may suggest a new mode of action for silent information regulatory factor homologues.     

Chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for resected gastric cancer: should we use selection criteria?

BackgroundThe management of gastric adenocarcinoma is essentially based on surgery followed by adjuvant treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) as well as chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) have proven their effectiveness in survival outcomes compared to surgery alone. However, there is little data comparing the two adjuvant approaches. This study aimed to compare the prognosis and survival outcomes of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma operated and treated by adjuvant radio-chemotherapy or chemotherapyMaterials and methodsWe retrospectively evaluated 80 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LGC) who received adjuvant treatment. We compared survival outcomes and patterns of recurrence of 53 patients treated by CTRT and those of 27 patients treated by CT.ResultsAfter a median follow-up of 38.48 months, CTRT resulted in a significant improvement of the 5-year PFS (60.9% vs. 36%, p = 0.03) and the 5-year OS (55.9% vs. 33%, p = 0.015) compared to adjuvant CT. The 5-year OS was significantly increased by adjuvant CTRT (p = 0.046) in patients with lymph node metastasis, and particularly those with advanced pN stage (p = 0.0078) and high lymph node ratio (LNR) exceeding 25% (p = 0.012). Also, there was a significant improvement of the PFS of patients classified pN2–N3 (p = 0.022) with a high LNR (p = 0.018). CTRT was also associated with improved OS and PFS in patients with lymphovascular and perineural invasion (LVI and PNI) compared to chemotherapy.ConclusionThere is a particular survival benefit of adding radiotherapy to chemotherapy in patients with selected criteria such as lymph node involvement, high LNR LVI, and PNI.     

Purification of the two major proteins from whey concentrate using a cation‐exchange selective adsorption process

The packed‐bed adsorption and elution of aqueous solutions of whey concentrate powders were investigated at pH 3.7 using a 5‐mL SP Sepharose FF column to separate and isolate two major proteins namely, α‐lactalbumin (ALA) and β‐lactoglobulin (BLG) from these solutions. ALA displaced and eluted BLG from the column in a pure form. Pure ALA could then be eluted with good recovery. A novel consecutive two‐stage separation process was developed to separate ALA and BLG from whey concentrate mixtures. Almost all of the BLG in the feed was recovered, with 78% being recovered at 95% purity and a further 20% at 86% purity. In addition, 67% of ALA was recovered, 48% at 54% purity and 19% at 60% purity. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010     

Dioxouranium(VI) thiocyanate complexes of schiff bases of p-nitro,chloro, bromo,hydroxy and methoxy aniline and salicylaldehyde

A series of dioxouranium(VI) complexes was synthesised with some Schiff base ligands containing substituent groups at para positions to CHN groups. These molecules were obtained by the condensation of para-nitro, chloro, bromo, hydroxy, methyl and methoxy aniline with salicylaldehyde. The bidentate ligands formed complexes of the type UO₂(NCS)₂ (X-N-Sal)_n·mH₂O, where n = 2, m = 3, x = NO₂, Cl, Br and OH; n = 3, m = 2, x = CH₃ and OCH₃.Conductivity measurements indicate that all the complexes are non-electrolytes in nitromethane solution, whereas in DMF they correspond to 1:1 electrolytes.IR spectral data suggest that the molecules and not the anions of the Schiff base are coordinated to the central uranium atom. IR and Raman spectra suggest that the complexes UO₂(NCS)₂(X-N-Sal)₂· 3H₂O (X = NO₂, Cl, Br) have C_2h molecular symmetry, whereas UO₂(NCS)₂(X-N-Sal)₃·2H₂O (X = OCH₃, CH₃) have C_2v symmetry.The frequencies of UO_2(asym) (IR) and UO_2(sym) (R) in the complexes seem to vary with the various substituents of the Schiff base ligand, in the order:NO₂ > Cl > Br > OH > CH₃ > OCH₃     

Absence of left ventricular and arterial adaptations to exercise in octogenarians.

Recent evidence suggests that octogenarians exhibit attenuated adaptations to training with a small increase in peak O2 consumption (VO2) that is mediated by a modest improvement in cardiac output without an increase in arteriovenous O2 content difference. This study was designed to determine whether diminished increases in peak VO2 and cardiac output in the octogenarians are associated with absence of left ventricular and arterial adaptations to exercise training. We studied 22 octogenarians (81.9 +/- 3.7 yr, mean +/- SD) randomly assigned a group that exercised at an intensity of 82.5 +/- 5% of peak heart rate for 9 mo and 14 (age 83.1 +/- 4.1) assigned to a control group. Peak VO2 increased 12% in the exercise group but decreased slightly (-7%) in the controls. The exercise group demonstrated significant but small decreases in the heart rate (6%, P = 0.002) and the rate-pressure product (9%, P = 0.004) during submaximal exercise at an absolute work rate. Training induced no significant changes in the left ventricular size, geometry (wall thickness-to-radius ratio), mass, and function assessed with two-dimensional echocardiography or in arterial stiffness evaluated with applanation tonometry. Data suggest that the absence of cardiac and arterial adaptations may in part account for the limited gain in aerobic capacity in response to training in the octogenarians.